Stabilizing means for tram cars

ABSTRACT

A substantially vertically disposed guide bar is carried by and extends downwardly from the floor of a cable suspended tram car, and a loading platform is provided with means defining an elongate slot therein open at both ends and into which the guide bar passes as the car approaches and passes closely above the platform whereby the walls of the slot limit lateral movement of the guide bar and thereby limit lateral swinging of the tram car while it is disposed above the platform.

Unite States Patent Goforth et al.

111 3,7 2,969 [4 1 Apr. 24, 1973 I STABILIZING MEANS FOR TRAMI CARS [75] Inventors: Samuel P. Got'orth; Joseph A.

Goforth, both of Shelby, NC

[73} Assignee: Goforth Brothers, Inc., Shelby, NC.

[22] Filed: Apr. 19, 1971 [21] App1.No.: 135,161

[52] US. Cl ..l04/28, 104/173 [51] Int. Cl. ..B6lb 11/00 [58] Field of Search .....104/89, 112, 173, 104/180, 28; 105/148 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,109,371 9/1914 Thunhart ..l04/87 3,417,710 12/1968 Kokes t ..1()4/173 ST 3,461,813 8/1969 Mcllvaine ..l()4/l73 ST fee 35m FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 645,846 9/ l 962 Italy ..104/173 1,093,685 11/1954 France 249,282 3/1948 Switzerland ..104/173 Primary Examiner-Gera1d M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner Robert Saifer Attorney-Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson 57 ABSTRACT 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures STABILIZING MEANS FOR TRAM CARS As is well known, in an aerial tramway, tram cars are usually suspended from a single endless rope or cable and therefore are relatively free to swing laterally of their normal path of travel. Such lateral swinging of the tram cars generally is not regarded as objectionable to the passengers of trarn cars. However, while each tram car is traveling over a loading platform or is stopped during loading and unloading operations, it is desirable to stabilize the tram car against lateral swinging movement so that the tram car will not oscillate during loading and unloading operations due to variances in weight distribution.

It is known to provide various forms of stabilizing means for tram cars, but such means have not been entirely satisfactory to our knowledge. For example, a loading platform has been provided with an edge parallel with the path of travel of the tram car, and adjacent and to one side of which the tram car is positioned during loading and unloading operations. In some instances, two such edges have been provided in spaced relationship for passage of the floor portion of a tram car therebetween. Such edges are objectionable because of the danger of workmen or other persons accidently stepping over such edges. Also, such edges tend to interfere with the normal progressive motion of the tram cars. More recently, it has been proposed to provide a movable stabilizing arm for maintaining a tram car in a fixed position during loading and unloading operations. However, such arm has not served to limit swinging of the tram car during its travel over the loading platform.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved stabilizing means for cable suspended tram cars which stabilizes the tram car against excessive lateral motion during its travel over a loading platform as well as while it is stopped for loading and unloading the same, and wherein a substantial portion of the floor of the tram car overlies the platform in closely spaced relation thereto during loading and unloading operations.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide means for stabilizing a cable suspended tram car with respect to a loading platform, which means comprises a substantially vertical stabilizing guide bar carried by and extending downwardly from the tram car, and means carried by the platform defines an elongate slot which is open at both ends and into which the stabilizing bar passes as the car approaches and passes closely above the platform, whereby the slot defining means limits lateral movement of the guide bar and thereby limits lateral swinging of the tram car while it is disposed above the platform, regardless of whether the tram car is stopped or is traveling along the platform.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which V FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the loading area of an aerial tramway showing a tram car occupying an unloading position above a loading platform with cooperating means between the car and platform for stabilizing the car;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevation, partially in section, taken substantially along line 2-2 in FIG..1; and

FIG. 3 is an elevation of cable stabilizing means spaced above the platform to aid in restraining the tram car against swinging motion in a direction parallel to the run of the cable while the car is positioned over the platform.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, a passenger-carrying tram car 10 is suspended from an endless cable 11 by means of a substantially vertically disposed pendulous support bar or column 12 coupled, as at 13, to cable 11. The central portion of a supporting floor 15 ofa passenger compartment or carrier 16 is suitably secured to a lower portion of column 12. To aid in stabilizing tram car 10 relative to a loading platform 20, according to the invention, an elongate substantially vertical stabilizing guide bar is carried by and extends downwardly from tram car 10. In this instance, and as is preferred, a guide bar 12a is suitably secured to or formed integral with the centrally disposed support column 12 and, therefore, may be termed as an extension of support column 12. The stabilizing guide bar 12a cooperates with platform 20 in a manner to be later described to stabilize the tram car 10 as to lateral swinging movement thereof during its travel over loading platform 20 as well as while it is stopped for loading and unloading the same.

As-shown, loading platform 20 is positioned beneath a bend or turn in cable 11, as is convenient to provide spaced apart passenger unloading and loading areas 20a, 20b on platform 20 which are disposed in generally angular relationship with respect to each other. Accordingly, cable 11 passes in engagement with a relatively large rotatable pulley or wheel 22 spaced a substantial distance above platform and mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis in bearing blocks 23 carried by a frame 24 mounted on suitable posts 25. As cable 11 advances toward and away from pulley 22 it takes the form of diverging ingress and egress runs 11a, 11b which overlie the respective unloading and loading areas 20a, 20b of platform 20. Since the level of platforms should be relatively close to ground level and it is desirable to move the tram car 10 along a relatively higher path of travel when it is not located above platform 20, cable 11 has an inclined approach run 11c which extends downwardly and forwardly to a point adjacent the vertical plane of the rear edge of the platform 20. Suitable guide means or approach rollers 27, 28 are provided to position approach run 1 10 at the desired angle.

In order to stabilize tram car 10 while it is over platform 20, the floor of platform 20 constitutes means defining an elongate slot 30 therein, which slot is open at both ends and is of relatively narrow width as compared to the width of the floor 15 of tram car 10 for loosely, but confiningly receiving the stabilizing guide bar 12a therein. The platform floor may be made from any desired material, such as wood or concrete and, therefore, the side walls of slot 30 preferably are provided with wear-resistant surfaces suchas thin strips of metal 31 (FIG. 2) suitably secured to the slot defining means.

Slot 30 is disposed in substantially vertical alignment with runs 11a, 11b of cable 11. Accordingly, slot 30 is formed in two branches 30a, 30b which correspond to the respective ingress and egress runs 11a, 11b of cable 1 1 and extend along the respective unloading and loading areas 20a and 20b of platform 20. At theirjuncture, the branches 30a, 30b of slot 30 are interconnected by a curved slot portion 300 whose curvature corresponds substantially to the curvature of the periphery of pulley 22 thereabove. In other words, slot 30 conforms substantially to the configuration of the diverging runs 1 1a, 1 1b of cable 11 and a segment of the pulley 22.

Since tram car is subject to considerable lateral swinging motion during its normal travel along with I cable 11, elongate approach guide means 35 is provided which extends rearwardly and upstream from platform with respect to the direction of travel of tram car 10 for confining stabilizing guide bar 12a against any substantial lateral swinging movement and guiding the same into the ingress end of slot 30. The approach guide means 35 comprises a pair of laterally spaced tracking members 35a, 35b which may take the form of elongate metal rods, bars or tubular members, and whose proximal surfaces,'at the forward portions thereof, are substantially aligned with the side walls of the open ingress end of slot a, although the forward ends of tracking members a, 35b may be disposed a substantial distance below the level of platform 20 and may extend beneath the floor of platform 20, if desired. Tracking members 35b, 35b extend rearwardly in substantially parallel relationship for a substantial portion of their lengths with at least the upper surfaces thereof being inclined upwardly and rearwardly in a plane substantially parallel with the inclined portion 110 of cable 11 thereabove. Tracking members 35a, 35b may be supported on strandards 35c embedded in concrete or the earth therebeneath.

At their rear portions, tracking members 35a, 35b extend in flaring or diverging relationship as shown in the left-hand portion in FIG. 1 so as to define therebetween a generally V-shaped opening with their rearmost extremities being spaced apart a distance at least equal to the maximum distance that the lower portion of stabilizing guide bar 12a may swing to either side of the vertical plane of cable 11. Thus, stabilizing guide bar 12a will engage one or the other of the tracking members 35a, 35b and thus be directed into the slot defined between tracking members 35a, 35b to be directed into the slot 30 in platform 20 as tram car 10 approaches the platform 20. It is thus seen that stabilizing bar 12a cooperates with slot 30 to prevent any substantial lateral swinging motion of tram car 10 while it is traveling over platform 20 and while it is at a standstill at either the unloading area 20a or the loading area 20b of platform 20.

In order to stabilize tram car 10 against any bobbing movement while tram car 10 is disposed in the vertical plane of platform 20, two substantially horizontal series of guide rollers 40a, 40b are firmly supported above the respective branches 30a, 30b of slot 30 and upon which the respective ingress and egress runs 11a and 11b of cable 11 are supportingly positioned, with the rollers 40a, 40b being arranged so that the runs 11a, 11b of cable 11 will be maintained substantially parallel with the upper surface of platform 20. The series of rollers 40a, 40b preferably are of about the same length as the respective branches 30a, 30b of stabilizing slot 30 in platform 20, and at least the lower peripheral portion of pulley 22 is provided with an outwardly projecting flange 22a thereon for supporting cable 1 l and thereby restraining tram car 10 against any substantial forward and rearward swinging motion in the course of movement thereof over the curved portion 30c of slot 30. The rollers of each series 40a, 40b have their respective axes extending transversely with respect to the corresponding branches of slots 30 and are so spaced above platform 20 that the lower surface of the floor 15 of the passenger compartment 16 will be disposed in closely spaced relation above the upper surface of platform 20. The series of rollers 40a, 40b are journalled in respective pairs of elongate support bars 40c, 40d mounted on respective pairs of cantilever arms 40e, 40f carried by posts 40g, 40h.

lt is thus seen that we have provided an improved apparatus whereby the cable suspended tram car 10 is stabilized against any substantial lateral or forward and rearward swinging motion throughout its travel over, and while it is at a standstill over, the loading platform 20, so that the floor space of the platform need not be as large as would be necessary if no means were provided to limit the extent of lateral swinging movement of the tram car 10. Also the stabilizing means of this invention ensures that the bottom surface of the floor 15 of the passenger compartment 16 may be positioned very close to the floor of the platform so as to facilitate loading and unloading operations.

Inthe drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. The combination, with an aerial cable supported for movement along a predetermined path and a plurality of tram cars each having a floored passenger compartment and being suspended from said cable for movement therewith along said path and for normally relatively free bobbing and swinging movement, of an arrangement for stabilizing said cars during unloading and loading of passengers and comprising:

a loading platform underlying a portion of said predetermined path and defining a surface for accommodating passengers getting on and off said cars,

a series of rollers supported in spaced relation above said surface of said platform and underlying said cable for supporting said cable and said cars during traversal of said platform by said cars, said rollers being spaced above said surface at such a distance as to maintain said floored compartments of said cars in predetermined spaced relation above said surface and cooperating for restraining said cable and said cars against bobbing movement relative to said platform,

a substantially vertical guide bar carried by and depending from each of said cars, and

means in said platform for defining an elongate slot underlying said-cable and open at both ends for receiving and passing said guide bars during traversal of said platform by said cars, said slot and said guide bars cooperating for restraining said cars against lateral swinging movement relative to said platform, I

whereby said rollers, said guide bars and said slot stabilize said cars while traversing said platform against movements otherwise freely occurring throughout other portions of said path of movement of said cars.

I 2. A structure according to claim 1, including elongate guide means extending upstream from said platform with respect to the direction of travel of said tram car and comprising a pair of laterally spaced tracking members having the proximal surfaces of their forward portions substantially aligned with the sidewalls of the open rear end of said slot, and at least the rear portions of said members extending in rearwardly diverging relationship to readily receive and guide said guide bar into said slot in said platform.

3. A structure according to claim 2, wherein guide means are provided for guiding said cable downwardly and forwardly at an incline toward and to a position substantially in the verticalplane of the rear portion of members with at least the upper surfaces thereof extending in a plane substantially parallel with the inclined portion of said cable.

4. A structure according to claim 1, including a rotatable wheel spaced above said platform and mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis, said cable being mounted for movement in engagement with said wheel to form diverging ingress and egress runs of said cable spaced above said platform, and said slot defining means being formed in two branches interconnected by a curved portion with the branches and the curved portion of the slot defining means collectively conforming substantially to the configuration of said diverging runs of said cable and the periphery of said wheel.

5. A structure according to claim 1 wherein said series of rollers are disposed substantially. in the vertical plane of each of said branches of said slot defining means. 

1. The combination, with an aerial cable supported for movement along a predetermined path and a plurality of tram cars each having a floored passenger compartment and being suspended from said cable for movement therewith along said path and for normally relatively free bobbing and swinging movement, of an arrangement for stabilizing said cars during unloading and loading of passengers and comprising: a loading platform underlying a portion of said predetermined path and defining a surface for accommodating passengers getting on and off said cars, a series of rollers supported in spaced relation above said surface of said platform and underlying said cable for supporting said cable and said cars during traversal of said platform by said cars, said rollers being spaced above said surface at such a distance as to maintain said floored compartments of said cars in predetermined spaced relation above said surface and cooperating for restraining said cable and said cars against bobbing movement relative to said platform, a substantially vertical guide bar carried by and depending from each of said cars, and means in said platform for defining an elongate slot underlying said cable and open at both ends for receiving and passing said guide bars during traversal of said platform by said cars, said slot and said guide bars cooperating for restraining said cars against lateral swinging movement relative to said platform, whereby said rollers, said guide bars and said slot stabilize said cars while traversing said platform against movements otherwise freely occurring throughout other portions of said path of movement of said cars.
 2. A structure according to claim 1, including elongate guide means extending upstream from said platform with respect to the direction of travel of said tram car and comprising a pair of laterally spaced tracking members having the proximal surfaces of their forward portions substantially aligned with the sidewalls of the open rear end of said slot, and at least the rear portions of said members extending in rearwardly diverging relationship to readily receive and guide said guide bar into said slot in said platform.
 3. A structure according to claim 2, wherein guide means are provided for guiding said cable downwardly and forwardly at an incline toward and to a position substantially in the vertical plane of the rear portion of said platform, and means supporting said tracking members with at least the upper surfaces thereof extending in a plane substantially parallel with the inclined portion of said cable.
 4. A structure according to claim 1, including a rotatable wheel spaced above said platform and mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis, said cable being mounted for movement in engagement with said wheel to form diverging ingress and egress runs of said cable spaced above said platform, and said slot defining means being formed in two branches interconnected by a curved portion with the branches and the curved portion of the slot defining means collectively conforming substantially to the configuration of said diverging runs of said cable and the periphery of said wheel.
 5. A structure according to claim 1 wherein said series of rollers are disposed substantially in the vertical plane of each of said branches of said slot defining means. 